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Hi Anita, according to latest studies the optimal speaking time is 20 minutes. IF it is longer you need to pay attention to the 10-minute-rule: Change your audiences state every 10 minutes. Have them do something, show them something etc.

If I am speaking from a paper manuscript, to avoid getting lost in my document or losing the audience by burying myself in the manuscript or lecture, I always format it the following way:

1) Text in 14 pt font or larger
2) At least double spaced (as my eyes get older I’ve taken to triple spacing)
3) Page #’s printed in 18 pt and BOLD at the bottom center of each page (and I usually take a highlighter to them after that)
4) I leave 1/4 – 1/3 white space at the bottom of each page to avoid looking too far down and losing eye contact
5) I fold all the right corners down to facilitate ease of page movement.

I generally bring two copies, just in case. And, finally, I never staple the manuscript–I personally find it very distracting and unprofessional to watch someone fold a page under while speaking.

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By far the most important thing is thinking. – Why is your audience is there? – What 5 questions do they expect you’ll answer? – What research or studying do you need to do to give great, practical answers? – What is an outline for expressing all your…